Experts say Xi will have the advantage of hosting APEC in Shenzhen — SCMP — South China Morning Post

In China, President Xi Jinping will, according to experts, have greater opportunities to shape the agenda during the November APEC summit in Shenzhen than he did during the recent meeting with Donald Trump in Washington. As the South China Morning Post reports, the Chinese leader will arrive at the forum from a more confident position.

Updated framework for relations

Experts link this confidence to an updated bilateral framework aimed at building “constructive relations of strategic stability based on respect, fairness and reciprocity.” Among other factors, they cited the warmer tone of Xi’s three-day visit to the United States.

The publication describes this state visit as filled with ceremonial events but producing few concrete results. According to experts, the events in Washington could also prompt US allies and middle powers to reconsider their approaches to policy toward China.

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Host country status

The summit will take place in Shenzhen in southern China, where the technology companies Huawei, BYD and Tencent are based. Chen Qi, director of Tsinghua University’s Center for China-US Relations, said that APEC host status would give China substantially greater autonomy in shaping the agenda, selecting topics and conducting preparatory work.

According to him, during the Washington meeting, the United States controlled the organizational script, while China had only opportunities to participate and engage in discussions. In Shenzhen, Beijing will be able to demonstrate its diplomatic influence in a way that was unavailable during the bilateral meeting.